Combined trunk-tray and table



(No Model.)

0. H. MILLER. COMBINED TRUNK TRAY AND TABLE.

No. 592,159. Patented Oct. 19,1897.

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NITED STATES.

PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES H. MILLER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED TRU N K-TRAY AN DLTABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of I Letters Patent No. 592,159, dated October 19, 1897.

I Application filed January 15,1897. erial No. 619,386, .(llo model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Trunk- Tray and Table, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification;

My invention relates to an adjustable hinged tray adapted to fill the usual position in a trunk and which, when taken out, can be adjusted to form a table and supported upon the trunk; and my invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter described and claimed.

FigureI is a perspective of atrunk closed, showing my improved tray formed into a table and resting upon the trunk. Fig. II is a perspective of the tray in its closed form,

showing the inner tray resting within the tray of which the table is formed. Fig. III is a perspective of the tray, showing the inner tray removed. Fig. IV is a detail perspective showing manner of supporting the folding sides of the tray when it is transformed into atable. Fig. V is a detail view showing dowel-pin which is attached to the tray and the socket in the trunk which the dowel-pin enters to hold the table in position. Fig. VI is a plan view of the curved brace for holding the sides of the tray in their elevated position when the tray has been transformed into a table.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the body of a trunk, and 2 the top'.

3 represents a tray adapted to fit within the trunk, and 4 an inner tray adapted to rest within the tray 3 when the same is in position on the inside of a trunk.

5 represents the bottom of the outer tray, which also forms the central section of the top of the table when the tray has been transformed into a table.

6 represents the fixed ends of the outer tray,

which are secured to the bottom 5 and which form a rest or support for the table when the position when the tray is inverted, as shown in Fig. I, the pins entering sockets 8 near the endsof the trunk.

9 represents the hinged sides of the outer tray and which formhinged leaves of the table when the tray has been transformed, as shown in Fig. I; .The sides 9 of the tray are secured to the bottom 5 by means of hinges 10.

. 11 represents a central cross-piece, and 12 end cross-pieces in the outer tray, said crosspieces serving to support the inner tray 4, which is of less depth than the outer tray.

13 represents curved arms having their outer ends secured at 14 to the sides of the tray and their inner ends folding neatly within the tray, as shown in Fig. III, when the tray is in position to be'placed within the trunk, the sides of the tray being held in theirclosed position by means of notches 15 in the curved arms 13, said notches engaging staples 16, secured to the end sections 6 of the tray by gravity when the sides are moved into their closed position. The outer ends of the arms 13 are provided with notches 17 on the opposite sideof the arms, said notches engaging the staples16 by gravity when the sides of the tray have been folded backward to form the leaves of the table, as shown in Fig. I, 18 representing lugs or extensions on the outer ends of the arms in order to prevent any accidental withdrawal of the outer ends of the arm 13 from the staples 16, said arms thus forming a brace for the hinged sides 9 of the tray or the leaves of the table, as the case may be, and at the same time serving to lock themin either a closed or open position.

When the outer tray has been transformed into a table, as shown in Fig. I, the inner tray t may be used as a drawer, the ends of the tray resting upon the cross-pieces 12, the cross-piece 11 in the center of the outer tray being temporarily removed. I have shown my convertible tray as supported on a flattopped trunk, but of course it can also be supported on a round-topped trunk by forming curved portions in the end pieces 6 of'the tray without departing from the spirit of my invention.

By the use of my device I am able to transform the tray of a trunk into a table having a solid support for the same, and having the convenience of a drawer to the table, without in any way changing or altering the construction of the tray. It will, of course, be seen that the drawer or inner tray 4: may be shoved inward from the position shown in Fig. I, and the folding sides of the tray 9 be let down if it was found desirable in having a table with less surface on any special occasion, either side being folded down or raised into position independent of the other side, and the table still firmly supported upon the trunk.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a trunk tray, a trunk for supporting the tray, the tray havin g hinged sides adj ustably secured in either a Vertical or horizontal position which may be inverted to form a table, dowel-pins on the ends of the tray, and sockets in the trunk for supporting the tray when it has been transformed into a table, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a tray having hinged sides adapted to be folded back and supported in a horizontal position when it is desired to change the tray into a table, an inner tray adapted to fit within the outer tray and crosspieces on the outer tray serving as a support for the inner tray which forms a drawer when the outer tray has been converted into a table, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES II. MILLER.

Witnesses:

O. K. HOLLOWAY, J. E. KNIGHT. 

